1.  FVSA MASS MEETING
2.  MUSIC VIDEOS NEEDED: FVSA Karaoke Kamikaze: March '10
3.  NEW FVSA T-SHIRTS Pre-Order
4.  Office Hours

1. FVSA MASS MEETING- SAVE THE DATE!

The FVSA will be hosting a Mass Meeting on Thursday, January 21st from
5-6:30pm.  Want to learn more about what FVSA does?  Want to get involved?
Come to our mass meeting for FREE FOOD, games and some good ol' FVSA fun!
Location: Perlman Honors Commons on the 1st floor of Mason Hall.

2. MUSIC VIDEOS NEEDED: FVSA Karaoke Kamikaze: March '10


FVSA is looking for music video submissions for an event to be held during
the Projectorhead series on March 18th.  Everyone is welcome to submit (you
do NOT need to be a SAC concentrator to be eligible).   Videos can be about
anything, to any song with lyrics played as subtitles because we will play
them @ the event and then sing along Karaoke style!  For access to filming
equipment (cameras, lights, etc.), please visit ISS in Mason Hall
( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), visit http://www.lsa.umich.edu/iss/faq or call them @
734.615.0100 for more info about equipment and rental procedures.  If you
have further questions please email us @ fvsa.info@umich.edu.

3.  FVSA T-SHIRTS Pre-Order

Shoot us an email or stop by during office hours (see below) on the 4th
floor of the Michigan Union, 4345 to see and/or Pre-Order our awesome NEW
FVSA T-Shirts.  Show your support of FVSA by sporting one of these newly
designed and totally rockin' tees.  Only $10.00!!  You can also pre-order a
shirt during Lightworks, Dec 18th & 19th from 6:00pm- 10:00pm @ Nat Sci
Auditorium.

4.  Office Hours- limited due to end of classes.

If you'd like to talk with someone face to face, then come visit us in our
office on the 4th floor of the Michigan Union, 4345.

Mon       Tues       Wed       Thur       Fri

11-3      1-3       12-2        4-6         -



Questions? Comments? Complaints? Consonance? Reply to fvsa.info@umich.edu!

Following is a list of award winners and honorable mentions for Lightworks of Fall 09. Winners can still make arrangements to pick up their prizes after break by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Digital Lightworks Frequently Asked Questions


1. When I use a "droplet" to convert my project, a quicktime file appears, but when I click it, it says "This is not a movie file." What gives?

A: When you use a droplet, and the file appears, it's actually in the process of being converted. Unfortunately, there's no status bar that tells you this. The longer your project, the longer it will take. A 10 minute video could take around 15+ minutes to finish. The important part is that you make sure you can play the video before burning it to a Data Disc.


2. What is a "data DVD" and how do I make one/get one?

A: A data disc means that we want your digital quicktime file and NOT an authored DVD. If you made the DVD in iDVD, you did it wrong. To make a data dvd, insert a blank DVD-R disc (available at places like Michigan Book and Supply, Best Buy, etc.) into a Mac computer. The Mac may prompt you and ask if you'd like to "Open the disc in Finder". You want to open the disc in finder, so click "ok". It will then appear in Finder as a blank disc, which you can drag your video file onto. After you drag the file onto the disc, click "Burn" in the upper right hand corner of the finder window (while the disc is selected). If your project will fit on a data CD, feel free to use that instead of DVD.

Just to reiterate, if your disc has a menu and plays in a DVD player, you did it wrong. We just want a copy of your digital video file.


3. I converted my project to H.264 and the drop in quality is really noticeable, what can I do?

A:  While most people who shot on miniDV are finding that H.264 works well, some people are expressing concerns, mainly those with transfers from film. If you are experiencing problems with H.264, you may export using the Apple Pro Res 422 HQ codec, which is also included in the "droplet" pack. Please email fvsa.info@umich.edu and let us know if you intend to use Apple Pro Res instead of H.264. If you cannot see a difference in quality, please use H.264 as it takes up less hard drive space.


4. What if my project isn't done by Wednesday at 5pm?

A:  You must put some sort of physical placeholder in the submission box by 5pm. An empty dvd or miniDV case will do. Please label it with your class number, title, and your name. If you don't put in a placeholder, we assume you won't be done for Lightworks.


5. I put a placeholder in the box, now what?

A:  FVSA board members will be stationed in the FVSA office (4345 Michigan Union 4th floor), from 10am to Noon on Friday the 18th to accept late submissions (that had placeholders by Wednesday). We will not be taking any projects after 12 Noon on Friday. Forget about running into Nat Sci last minute, it's unprofessional and disrespectful to your fellow students and audience members.

Lightworks is now Digital! We're even working on getting an HD Projector! So how do you give us your digital film (or film reel if you're in SAC 300)? Read on Padawan.

For SAC 300 Students:

If you're in SAC 300 and your project is on 16mm film, a crate will be placed in the Argus Film Equipment Room, and you will be responsible for turning your film into this crate by the due date. Your miniDV sound should be taped to the reel, securely but  not with ridiculous amounts of tape. Please label both the reel and the miniDV case with your project's title and makers. Make sure you put a corresponding punch hole in your leader and on your miniDV tape.

For Everyone Else:

You get to turn in digital quicktime files of your work!

• For those of you who shot videos on miniDV or are editing in DV, you will be using Apple Pro Res (LT).

• For those of you who shot on an HVX and are editing in DVCPRO HD, you will be using Apple Pro Res 422.

• For anyone that shot in 1080P somehow, if you feel strongly that there is a quality difference, feel free to use Apple Pro Res 422 (HQ), though our research found that it really only makes a difference for things like Red One footage.

Please no color bars or countdowns on Digital files. 5 seconds of black, before and after your project will suffice.

Please use this naming convention on Digital files: Course number - Title (301-My Cool Movie.mov).


How to Export and Turn in your Project:

You may convert your project to an Apple Pro Res codec in one of two ways:

1) If you know how to use the program "Compressor" that comes with Final Cut Studio, then you are welcome to use that (we suggest using frame control settings to prevent choppy motion or strobing over camera movements).

2) If that sounds intimidating, we've created some files called "droplets" which you can download here and use on any computer with Final Cut Studio 7 (any ISS or Duderstadt editing machine). These files automate the process, and come with detailed and simple instructions. Just click the link below to download a zip file containing the "droplets" and instructions.

Click here to Download Droplets

Turning in your digital file:

Digital Submissions should be burned to a DVD DATA DISC (NOT a playable DVD) and placed in the cardboard box in the Department of Screen Arts and Cultures Office (6th floor Haven Hall). Please label the DVD with your course number, title, makers, and any other relevant information. NOTE: When naming your digital file, please put your course number first, followed by a dash and then your title (example: 301-My Awesome Movie.mov)

For projects larger than will fit on a DVD, a hard drive transfer day will be announced so that you can transfer via hard drives. If you have your project done early, and you want to do a transfer, please email fvsa.info@umich.edu to set up an appointment.


If you have any questions or concerns, please email: fvsa.info@umich.edu